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How to put on a Yukata

Sometimes wearing new styles of clothing is a bit tricky the first few times. Yukata are no different. So let’s see we can do about putting one on without wanting to pull out hair or hold a ceremonial burning^^
Now, if your yukata is ankle length, it super simple. Wrap the front edges around you, making sure that the left side is over the right; right over left signifies that the person wearing it is dead. Tie a ribbon (or something similar; I like clean shoe strings myself) around your waist. The waist ribbon, properly known as a koshihimo, helps keep the yukata closed and makes things so much easier. This method works for guys and girls yukata.

Add your obi belt and you are finished. Easy, right?

OK, so if you weren’t using a tsuke obi (aka already tied so you just fasten the dang thing obi) it wouldn’t be so easy. But hey, we’re cheating cheaters that cheat, and I don’t want spend 10 minutes tying something I don’t have to. Formal obi are a whole other story^^

Now, if you haven’t noticed, the yukata my model is wearing is a bit long on her. Standard yukata come in the same length for regardless of whether for men or women, so rather than shortening the yukata, tradition says women should fold any extra up. (Men who have their yukata too long can do this too, but usually have it shortened instead; they don’t want to look like they have hips^^). This is called ohashori, which simply means waist fold.

First grab the two edges of the yukata and pull the hem up to where you want it. Wrap the left side over the right, and secure with a tie around your waist. It looks a bit messy up top, but the bottom should be nice and neat.

Now, fix the collar and straighten the folded part. It will look a bit like you have a shirt and skirt. Secure with another tie around your waist.

Add the obi and you’re done! You can use this technique to shorten your yukata as much as you want. It is also often used to shorten children’s yukata so they don’t get the hems dirty while playing outside^^

The technical term for how to wear any type of kimono or other Japanese garment/accessory is Kitsuke. But you probably didn’t need to know that, did you?